Arrangements Beyond Use of CDA to Ensure Teenagers Can Afford Eye-care and Eyewear to Prevent High Myopia

Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will explore other arrangements beyond the use of the Child Development Account to ensure that families of teenagers can afford the eye-care and eyewear that can prevent or slow down the onset of high myopia so as to reinforce the National Myopia Prevention Programme.

The first line and the most established way to prevent or slow progression of myopia is to use atropine eyedrops. Singaporeans being treated at Public Healthcare Institutions for myopia-control receive up to a 75% subsidy for atropine eye drops prescribed by clinicians. However, myopia-control glasses and contact lenses are predominantly prescribed in retail and community settings and are not subsidised.